04-04-2022, 05:56 PM
Nice conversation to come back to at the end of work. Lots of stuff I'd love to respond to but I'm late to the party but I'll say this:
While we definitely want to build to Kidd's defensive scheme (lots of switching and lateral quickness), we clearly need to add some size (and one that can play basketball as well as he makes goldfish commercials). We're going to have to sacrifice some of that mobility because we simply aren't going to get Bam or Mobley but that doesn't mean we have to sacrifice all of it. I'm thinking more Gobert and Mitchell Robinson vs Steven Adams or Jonas Valanciunas. Those guys can hold their own when called upon every once and while, the real trick is just making sure that if your center does get played off the floor because that's what good playoff teams do, do you have a roster to adjust? That's why I hope Powell stays here for life, being able to go to Powell in those situations would be huge, even if he isn't our most talented center or starting or what have you.
One name that I keep looking at that hasn't been mentioned (at least in today's conversation I think, apologies if I missed it) is Duke's Mark Williams who is slated to land in the late first round. I agree with others that think our pick is as good as gone just based on history and the fact that if you resign Brunson we already have a full 15 rostered but if there isn't a center upgrade to be had with Hardaway/Maxi + whatever little assets we have (which is a very real possibility), then I wouldn't be opposed moving off some money and creating some room for a center than we think we can develop into that player. I'm ok running with this group this post season and next (with whatever lateral movements we can make along the way) and being patient and reloading all our picks after the 2023 draft. We'll be able to make the biggest splash possible that way and who knows, maybe we'll even hit on a draft pick. Luka's extension hasn't even started yet, we still got plenty of time to figure this out so spending all our assets and paying 40 mil a year on an aging Gobert feels a little too desperate to me (although I do agree that he could make us true contenders).
While we definitely want to build to Kidd's defensive scheme (lots of switching and lateral quickness), we clearly need to add some size (and one that can play basketball as well as he makes goldfish commercials). We're going to have to sacrifice some of that mobility because we simply aren't going to get Bam or Mobley but that doesn't mean we have to sacrifice all of it. I'm thinking more Gobert and Mitchell Robinson vs Steven Adams or Jonas Valanciunas. Those guys can hold their own when called upon every once and while, the real trick is just making sure that if your center does get played off the floor because that's what good playoff teams do, do you have a roster to adjust? That's why I hope Powell stays here for life, being able to go to Powell in those situations would be huge, even if he isn't our most talented center or starting or what have you.
One name that I keep looking at that hasn't been mentioned (at least in today's conversation I think, apologies if I missed it) is Duke's Mark Williams who is slated to land in the late first round. I agree with others that think our pick is as good as gone just based on history and the fact that if you resign Brunson we already have a full 15 rostered but if there isn't a center upgrade to be had with Hardaway/Maxi + whatever little assets we have (which is a very real possibility), then I wouldn't be opposed moving off some money and creating some room for a center than we think we can develop into that player. I'm ok running with this group this post season and next (with whatever lateral movements we can make along the way) and being patient and reloading all our picks after the 2023 draft. We'll be able to make the biggest splash possible that way and who knows, maybe we'll even hit on a draft pick. Luka's extension hasn't even started yet, we still got plenty of time to figure this out so spending all our assets and paying 40 mil a year on an aging Gobert feels a little too desperate to me (although I do agree that he could make us true contenders).